The Never Ending Cruise - 2/6 Magic 8 night Cruise

[jessica52877]

I am going to go backwards for a minute. I guess I assume most who will read this know a little about us so I skipped that part. But on this adventure was:

myself, Jessica
DH Lin
DS7 Dallas

This was my 5th cruise and their 4th all with DCL.

I tend to always watch prices just because the idea of a cruise always sounds like so much fun. My aunt has given me a post card where kids sailed free. I had seen where they sailed free on 3 and 4 day ones, but I just couldn't justify the costs. They are almost as much as a 7 day and I feel like on a 3 day that as soon as I get on we are getting back off. I was not impressed with Nassua on our one 3 day although now I think I would do Atlantis and I know we would all love it.

Anyways, I called DCL and was able to get a kids sail free price for Dallas! This made the cost even better and I went for it. I only booked about 6 weeks out. I booked a catagory 12 and didn't care if that was what we got. I am fine with that. BUT it was our luck that we got pixie dusted to a catagory 9 with a porthole. I see now why Disney does this! They have sold me on having a window. Especially with the amount of time we spend in our room (atleast this time). Dallas loved the room and was happy playing with his puffles. He is penguin obsessed so club penguin is perfect for him.

 

[jessica52877]

Day 2
Key West

We woke up this morning after enjoying sleeping in. I hardly ever get to sleep in so I loved this! Nothing to wake up and do. Dallas gets up at 6 am and is on the bus for school before 7 each day so vacation is just wonderful! In fact we sleep probably until atleast 9! Then we headed up to Topsiders for the buffet. This was my favorite meal every day and one I came to long for all day long and I am not a big breakfast person. I just loved getting an omelette and some mickey waffles with roasted red potatoes and bacon! Yummy!

After breakfast we headed back to the room and Dallas went to his favorite spot! The port hole!

It is extremely hard to get a good picture because of the light, but you get the idea.

We joined our groups FE group and we had goodies already. This was a highlight of Dallas' trip. He loved always checking to see if anything was waiting for us. Our hostess even stuck some candy in a few different times. She was so sweet and saw what a kick Dallas got out of finding stuff. I wish I would have been better about knowing what we got from whom but he was always tearing into the stuff.

I have no idea what these things are called and I had no idea what they were but Lin knew. You blew them up and then sealed them shut. They made noise when you moved them. The boys got a kick out of them and also had a sword fight.

He also got a little blue light. He had had a red one once that Lin brought home from work but no idea where it is now. He was so excited to have a new one!

I worked on getting a better window picture.

Then I was just taking pictures to take pictures.

No idea what he was doing there.

And then I tried to get a better picture of our door and FE. It was really hard to get a good picture with my camera. The hallways are narrow and I always just seemed too close.

I enjoyed making the FE and kind of winged it from some directions. I am not a big fan of bias tape for some reason so decided to use elastic in mine. It worked out great and I loved how it turned out. Thanks Heather for the Mickey/Steamboat Willie design. It was perfect for this project and much easier then doing it "by hand".

Just in case you wondered why it was called a fish extender it is because it hangs from a fish! The fish is there in case disney needs to send you a message. They put the paper/card up there. I always thought it was odd because everything else is either put in your stateroom or under the door. But it works well for us disers.

I didn't go overboard on the magents but wanted a few. The magnet paper was crazy expensive! $14 for 4 sheets. I had read on here what seemed like a good deal to order some but I was afraid I had waited too long.

I love the Mickey Hat and ears though! Thanks to the fellow diser that designed them.

And a few others. Thanks again to all those that designed them!

By this time it was getting close to noon and we were approaching Key West. He was happy to watch from our room. So I took more pictures.

These are through the horribly dirty window! It wasn't that dirty when we started.

Of course Lin points out the gun on the front of the ship. Exactly what I want him to remember. NOT!

Lin must have decided it was his turn to sit and take pictures now. Here I am.

And a picture of the room for those who have never cruised. I am sitting on the couch which turns into a bed for Dallas. There is a table and then a small desk area with a stool and nice large mirror. If you ever cruise take your own alarm clock. The clock in the room is not digital and doesn't light up so you have NO idea what time it is when you wake up, especially if you have an inside stateroom with NO window! I didn't need any additional outlets but wasn't sure so brought along an outlet strip too. There are only two outlets (and then one behind the tv) so others might need one.

We decide to go up on deck to check out Key West.

It was nice and sunny but really it wasn' that warm out. The high for today was 60 or close to that.

Next installment, do we get off in Key West and if so, what do we do???

 

[revrob]

Day 2


And then I tried to get a better picture of our door and FE. It was really hard to get a good picture with my camera. The hallways are narrow and I always just seemed too close.

I enjoyed making the FE and kind of winged it from some directions. I am not a big fan of bias tape for some reason so decided to use elastic in mine. It worked out great and I loved how it turned out. Thanks Heather for the Mickey/Steamboat Willie design. It was perfect for this project and much easier then doing it "by hand".

MUST get my FE made! I've put it off - now my embroidery machine isn't working - so I'm gonna have to use iron on transfers. I'm not real good with those transfer sheets - I hope it works!

I'm LOVING your report! I'm sorry Dallas didn't enjoy the kids programs. I'm a little nervous about AG - I'm afraid that if she knows that she can just tell them she wants to leave, that she'll just tell them she's had enough (because she wants to hang out at the pool all day!). I sure hope she gets there and LOVES it from the beginning.

SO, breakfast at Topsiders was good, huh? Must remember that! Did you order room service at all? I'm thinking that Robert may take the kids up for breakfast while I get ready and order room service. But, who knows? We'll be on vacation - I'm not making a definite plan!

OOH! One more question - what was the biggest hit of the FE exchange? I need to get some things together?

 

[jessica52877]

MUST get my FE made! I've put it off - now my embroidery machine isn't working - so I'm gonna have to use iron on transfers. I'm not real good with those transfer sheets - I hope it works!

I'm LOVING your report! I'm sorry Dallas didn't enjoy the kids programs. I'm a little nervous about AG - I'm afraid that if she knows that she can just tell them she wants to leave, that she'll just tell them she's had enough (because she wants to hang out at the pool all day!). I sure hope she gets there and LOVES it from the beginning.

SO, breakfast at Topsiders was good, huh? Must remember that! Did you order room service at all? I'm thinking that Robert may take the kids up for breakfast while I get ready and order room service. But, who knows? We'll be on vacation - I'm not making a definite plan!

OOH! One more question - what was the biggest hit of the FE exchange? I need to get some things together?

Oh no! What is wrong with your machine! Do you want me to put something on the fabric for you, more then likely I have the same fabric! What design were you going to use? I'll be happy to do it! Just give me detailed instructions! I would make the whole thing but since I have never used bias tape before I doubt you would want me to test it out your FE if you planned on doing it that way.

I loved breakfast it at Topsiders. We did go to the character breakfast and I forget what I ordered, but I just preferred the buffet. Lin ordered sausage, hashbrowns and eggs and they gave him one sausage link, one hashbrown patty and an egg. So he was starving. We did order from room service alot! Way more often then normal and always at night. Dinners were not that impressive this time and I was always hungry. We never ordered room service for breakfast though. It got to the point most mornings that I had to hurry to up before breakfast was over at 10:45 because we kept sleeping later and later!

I wish I knew if what I gave the kids/adults liked and I wish I knew where a darn camera card was! I made crayon roll ups though and hope they were a hit. I had fun making most of them atleast. I only had to make 17.

As far as what Dallas received that he liked best was that little light. We got some decks of playing cards and he opened them every time but then didn't do a whole lot with them. I gave and we also received some of the disney cards, they were out at Valentine's Day at target (pack of 24) and then the dollar store has them too. Since being home he has played with them alot. We got a little sand pail that we took to Castaway Cay. I had also bought him so new cheap ones to take. They took up a bit of space in the luggage but he had alot of fun with them. I didn't want to buy them on the island.

 

[pixeegrl]

never been cruising but always wondered about it! Thanks for starting a trippie!

 

[Señor DonDuck]

Sorry to hear your Kids Club experience was not so good.

Lovin' all the details (you're not too wordy at all). Thanks for the cabin and FE shots (we're looking at a porthole room). Our cruise is not for another year but I've been showing my wife examples of all the great FE's that have been posted (such creative folks on this board).

 

[minnie2]

So fun!

 

[jessrose18]

Joining in, love your fish extender, in the process of collecting ideas for mine but I have nine more months to make it

 

[twob4him]

So the FE is for little gifts from other dissers then??? how cool! Love the report and all the pics!!! I am under instruction for how to cruise...lol!

 

[angelabielanin]

Love all the pictures and the great detail! Can't wait to hear more!

 

[Tinkerkell123]

Subbing!! Can't wait to read more. We were on the Magic 1/23 this year and I thought my kids were going to love the clubs. They went some, but weren't that thrilled. I am really hoping that they are just working out the kinks with the new format, but we shall see when we return next year. I also thought the CMs should do a little more to encourage the kids to participate in the different activities. When we were there, the kids could still play on the computers or gaming systems even when there was another activity going on...

 

[kimmylaj]

i dont really eat breakfast out , but those red potatoes might make me reconsider. sorry to hear about the kids club, it seems like the staff should be engaging the kids a little more. (especially after he said he wanted to be picked up...you would think that would be a hint ) my son ryan is also club penguin obsessed, he actually marks the family calendar with things like puffle parties and club penguin news new edition. it really is cute, i just wish it had more of the quizzies like webkinz. i guess it doesnt really matter but we do have to set a time limit because he is truly obsessed. since they had rockhopper in the christmas parade he thinks we will get to see him on our trip . i keep trying to convince him otherwise. looking forward to your next update

 

[4 mickey]

I'm in for your trip report

 

[jenb1023]

Joining in! Yours is my first cruise TR. Sorry the Kids club cms were - I would expect better from DCL. Looking forward to more!

 

[billwendy]

Ohhhh, I really want to go on a Disney Cruise!!! Im loving all the pictures Jessica!! Thank you!!!!

 

[jessica52877]

Guess I need to update soon. I am pretty sure I have more photos ready to go. Maybe tonight.

 

[jessica52877]

Of course we got off! I sure wouldn't want to miss out on walking around and I needed to turn to CVS and get some applesauce for Dallas!

I have alot of just pictures from Key West. I was enjoying just snapping and hoping for one to turn out good!

As soon as we got off we saw this cute bird. I love birds like this that aren't common around here.

I took a few pictures of the ship, just parts of the ship I guess. Trying to get a good different picture.

We really had no plan for Key West so got off and started walking around. Our last trip According to Jim was filming on Duval Street and it made for alot of people all in one area. We hardly looked around and ended up watching them film for a few minutes and then getting back on the boat earlier then we thought. We hadn't seen much of Key West so decided on a train like trolley tour. It was pretty costly if I remember right. I think around $80 for the three of us. BUT it was really enjoyable and lasted almost two hours I would say.

The wonderful folks behind us offered to take a picture of all 3 of us. Little did I know that Dallas once again was making hand gestures! I must say though, these folks were so nice. It was their 40th wedding anniversary and they had just gotten remarried at a little church.

This was a museum.

The begging of 1, Federal Highway, which is always fun to drive up in Florida, although A1A is more fun.

Just a tree.

Chickens that just run wild.

The Ocean

Southern most house.

And the southernmost point in the continental US. Not a good picture obviously. There were tons of people gathered around it.

Not the Magic.

Lighthouse

Hemingway's House

This is next to a little train depot stop and across the street from CVS. A little Ron Jon surf shop is right there.

Just an FYI, they were out of applesauce! I know you all were concerned and needed to know that! LOL! I had figured that they would have some onboard but we hadn't seen any at the meals and I didn't want to take my chances. Dallas now doesn't like much fruit, I ended up buying pears and peaches instead. They didn't have anything like that ever (skinned and cut up - like in the cups). Most restaurants around here always have that on their salad bar and I really figured with so many buffets they would have something, but nope. I will say that I never asked and they sometimes have things if you ask. I had always brought it before myself because Dallas was a baby/little and I wanted to be sure I had his staples.

Another chicken (or guess some of them are roosters).

Dallas pointing it out to me.

Spongeman

It was VERY chilly on this day! Don't let that sunshine deceive you! I don't think the high was even 60.

We got back on the ship and enjoyed the rest of the evening on board. I have no idea what we did. Oh wait, I do. It was superbowl night. We ate dinner . Lin in record time. He then went up on deck to watch it on the ariel screen. Dallas and I finished up, checked out the kids club activities on our navigator. Asked a few questions to the CM's there (still acted like they didn't want to talk to us) and went back to the room.

Tomorrow was our FE delivery day along with 2 other families so I decided we would go ahead and hand them out. We had fun walking around the ship and delivering them. It was interesting to see all the CM's who knew exactly what we were doing! They all said hello and said we must be one of those dis members. LOL! Afterwards we hung out in the room. I dropped Dallas' pillowcase off at guest services when he wasn't paying attention.

 

[jessica52877]

Oh my, what is up with my pictures. That sure makes for a boring update. It was already boring enough.

 

[PugDad626]

Jessica,

We were on the same '8 night' cruise with you. Pics can be seen at

www.wthomas.com/dcl.htm

 

[jessica52877]

Okay, I fixed them. For some reason it copied and pasted weird and broke up every link. Here is one extra that didn't fit in the post.